(Courtesy photo) Maryann Cocca-Leffler, the author of ""Fighting for YES! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann," will appear via Zoom at Tuesday's book launch hosted by the PLUS Company.

NASHUA – A picture-book biography of Judy Heaumann, one of the nation’s most prolific disability-rights activists, will be the subject of a combination book launch and fundraiser that the PLUS Company of Nashua is hosting via Zoom this coming Tuesday evening.

Titled “Fighting for YES! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann,” the book, written by award-winning author Maryann Cocca-Leffler, a former longtime Amherst resident, and illustrated by noted Nashville-based artist Vivien Mildenberger, traces Heumann’s experiences, accomplishments and societal impact derived from her years growing up hearing the word “no” often enough to inspire the dogged activism that led to the passage of landmark legislation that included the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To register for the virtual session, which begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, go to www.pluscompany.org or www.maryanncoccaleffler.com.

Cocca-Leffler and Mildenberger are planning to join the discussion on Zoom.

The Toadstool Bookshop, which has stores in Nashua, Peterborough and Keene, will be providing copies of the book, with 20% of the total sales going to the PLUS Company.

(Courtesy photo) Vivien Mildenberger, the illustrator of ""Fighting for YES! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann," will appear via Zoom at Tuesday's book launch hosted by the PLUS Company.

To purchase books online from the Nashua store, go to https://tinyurl.com/Fightingforyes.

According to a summary provided by the PLUS Company, the book “captures the impact and influence of one of Americaís greatest living activists.

“From a very young age, Ms. Heumann heard the word ‘NO.’ When she wanted to attend public school, the principal said ‘NO.’ When she wanted her teaching license, the New York Board of Education said ‘NO.’

“Judy and people with disabilities everywhere were tired of hearing ‘NO,'” according to the summary.

When an important disability rights law – Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – was waiting to be signed into law, Heumann and other disability rights activists fought for “YES!”

The cover of "Fighting for Yes! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann."

They held a sit-in until Section 504 – which laid the foundation for the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act – was signed into law.

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About Maryann Cocca-Leffler (www.maryan

ncoccaleffler.com)

The award-winning children’s book author-illustrator, who called Amherst home for more than 20 years and currently lives with her husband on the Maine coast, has been a passionate disability rights advocate since her daughter, Janine Leffler, was born with cerebral palsy in 1985.

Among her recent works is “We Want to Go to School! The Fight for Disability Rights,” a book she co-authored with Janine that tells the true story of the people behind the landmark 1972 case that ensured public education for all.

Both books were awarded Gold Selections by the Junior Library Guild.

Other titles include “Janine, The Power of Yet,” and her debut middle grade novel, “Heart Stones,” a mystery set on the coast of Maine.

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About Viven Mildenberger (www.vivien.mildenberger.com)

Vivien is the illustrator of a number of children’s books, including “All in a Drop” and “The Voice that Won the Vote.” She lives on a lovely farm just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, where she works on her illustrations, does pottery and other “general magic-making.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.